Plus…. New Star Wars Fireworks Show set to debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire readies for June opening at Magic Kingdom, and more!

We begin the June edition of the WDW Radio Newswire at Epcot, where we finally have an exact opening date for the Frozen additions to the Norway pavilion. The Frozen Ever After attraction and the Royal SommerhusMeet and Greet will officially join the World Showcase landscape on Tuesday, June 21st. FASTPASS+ bookings for Frozen Ever After are available now, and the attraction will be opening each morning at 9am (as opposed to the usual 11am opening time for World Showcase attractions).

For more news out of Epcot, let’s venture over to The Land pavilion, where the original version of Soarin’ has reopened ahead of the debut of Soarin’ Around the World. The new version is set to begin its globetrotting flights on Friday, June 17th. In the meantime, Guests can embark on the classic incarnation of Soarin’ one last time. In more Land-related news, Sunshine Seasons has just reopened for breakfast with expanded menu options. The quick-service spot had temporarily ceased breakfast hours while Soarin’ was shut down, but with the attraction back in the mix, Sunshine Seasons has made its return to the Epcot breakfast scene.

Time to park-hop over to Magic Kingdom Park now, as a brand new stage show is set to debut very soon. Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire will premiere at the Castle Forecourt Stage on Friday, June 17th. The show will feature a lively mix of singing, dancing, and all-around fun with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy. There will also be special appearances from some familiar faces, as the gang will be joined onstage by characters from The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Frozen. The new show replaces Dream Along with Mickey, which saw its last performance back on Saturday, April 2nd.

For more news out of Magic Kingdom Park, let’s stroll into Fantasyland and make our way over to “it’s a small world”. The attraction is set to see some downtime later this Summer, as a refurbishment has been scheduled from Monday, August 22nd to Thursday, September 15th.

For more news on the refurbishment front, let’s follow the hub over to Adventureland. The Swiss Family Treehouse will be closed for just over two-and-a-half months this Summer, as the walk-through attraction will be dark from Wednesday, July 6th to Saturday, September 24th.

There’s one more bit of news to mention in the Magic Kingdom. For this one, let’s head back up Main Street U.S.A. and stop into Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, where a new Main Street Electrical Parade Dining Package is now being offered. The package, priced at $45 for adults and $17 for kids ages 3 to 9, features a hearty three course lunch at Tony’s, plus priority viewing of the Electrical Parade later that evening. The reserved viewing area is located near the Main Street Flag Pole, offering up some pretty amazing sights of the action. The meal features your choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert, as well as a beverage of your choosing. Personally, I love this package. If you’re going to eat a three course lunch at Tony’s, you’d easily spend that much, or more. So why not book the package and guarantee yourself an opportunity to see the parade from a great vantage point? Bravo to the mouse for this one!

Time to hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios now for some news on a new nighttime fireworks spectacle coming to the park this Summer. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is set to light up the skies over DHS beginning Friday, June 17th. There’s been quite a bit of hoopla over this one, as Disney is touting this as the most elaborate fireworks display in the 27-year history of the park. Video projections on the Chinese Theater and surrounding buildings, a rockin’ soundtrack, laser lighting, booming pyrotechnics, and other exciting special effects will all combine with a massive fireworks display to put you right in the epicenter of the Star Wars universe like never before. At present time, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular seems to be an open-ended engagement, so I’d expect it to have an extended run stretching long beyond the Summer months.

For more news out of DHS, let’s head over to Toy Story Mania, where the third track is now officially open for business. Located in the area formerly occupied by Soundstage 1, the third track will hopefully alleviate the long wait times for the attraction. So far, it appears to be working. Once you wind through the queue and reach the merge point, you’re either directed up the staircase to the original loading area, or through a doorway and down a hallway to the third track’s loading area. This new area is similarly themed to its original counterpart, but is much smaller. As a result, the loading and unloading of the ride vehicles occur on the same side. The exit for the third track spits you out near what used to be the entrance to the Hollywood Backlot Tour (which will soon be right in the heart of Toy Story Land). It’s also worth noting that once Toy Story Land opens, the entrance to Toy Story Mania will be relocated to what is now the rear of the building.

Our final bit of news today takes us over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where an upcoming refurbishment has just been announced for DINOSAUR. The attraction will be closing on Monday, July 25th, with the “countdown to extinction” set to resume on Thursday, September 29th. This will put the total downtime for DINOSAUR at just over two months.

Well, that’s gonna do it for the June edition of the WDW Radio Newswire, but I’ll be back again next month with lots more news, notes, and happenings from Walt’s beloved Florida Project!

We begin the March edition of the WDW Radio Newswire at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where an opening date for Rivers of Light has just been announced. The new nighttime spectacle is set to make its debut on Friday, April 22nd, which by no coincidence just happens to be Earth Day. Rivers of Light will use a combination of choreographed dancers and performers, vibrant lighting displays, floating water lanterns, and other special effects to depict and celebrate the spirit of the animals. The soundtrack will be composed by Don L. Harper (Speed, Twister, Armageddon, National Treasure, and Fantasmic!), and Mark Mancina (The Lion King and Tarzan) will be creating an original song. Work has been ongoing along the Discovery River since September 2014 for Rivers of Light. Expectations are quite high, as the nighttime experience will be the first of its kind for the park.

Time to park-hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios now. For this bit of news, let’s venture over to Toy Story Midway Mania! for an update on the ride track expansion. Construction on a third track for the attraction is rapidly progressing, with plans now pointing to a completion date of “Summer 2016.” As part of the expansion project, the attraction will see a one-day closure on Tuesday, March 15th. As of now, this is the only scheduled closure for the attraction from now until the third track opens this summer.

Time to hop over to Magic Kingdom Park now for a pair of newsbits. Let’s first venture to Liberty Square, where The Diamond Horseshoe is set to re-open its doors for the upcoming Spring Break season. The restaurant will be back on the MK dining scene on Saturday, March 13th, and will feature a table service style lunch and dinner at a fixed price of $33 (plus tax) for adults and $19 (plus tax) for kids 3-9. The meal begins with a hearty Frontier Salad comprised of roasted corn, corn bread crotons, and fresh house made chipotle-ranch dressing. Entrée choices include tasty favorites like BBQ pulled turkey, spit-roasted ham, or stewed beef, and dessert features your pick of either a campfire brownie or apple tart. Lunch hours begin at 11:30am, with dinner served most nights until 9pm or later, depending on park closing.

Time to mosey on over to Frontierland now, as there’s an update to report on the refurbishment date for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The attraction was originally slated for a near four-month closure from Monday, April 4th to Friday, July 15th. However the refurb date has been pushed back a few months, as the closure is now set to run from Monday, August 8th to Friday, November 18th.

Time to board the Monorail and make our way over to Epcot now. For our final bit of news today, let’s make our way over to TheLiving Seas pavilion, as there are some brand new character elements on tap for Turtle Talk with Crush. The popular Finding Nemo franchise is set to return to the big screen this summer, as Finding Dory hits theaters everywhere on Friday, June 17th. To tie-in with the movie, several new characters will be incorporated into Turtle Talk this summer. Joining Crush and Dory in the big blue will be the trio of Destiny the whale shark, Bailey the beluga whale, and a “septopus” named Hank. In addition to these new characters, several more familiar fins will be making their first-ever Turtle Talk appearances: Nemo, Marlin, and Crush’s favorite little dude, Squirt.

Well, that’s gonna do it for the March edition of the WDW Radio Newswire, but I’ll be back again next month with lots more news, notes, and happenings from Walt’s beloved Florida Project!

Don Myers has covered news and recent events in Walt Disney World for the WDW Radio Blog since 2011. He has been enamored with the World of Disney since his first trip to WDW in 1986. As they say… the rest is history! Don was also a contributing writer for Celebrations magazine, submitting over 30 articles and 7 cover stories for the publication from 2009 to 2012.

Plus… More info on Star Wars Weekends, Expansions officially announced for Toy Story Midway Mania! and Soarin’, and more!

We kickoff the March edition of the WDW Radio Newswire at Epcot, as the 2015 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has just gotten underway. The 22nd installment of Flower & Garden kicked off on Wednesday, March 4th, with the 75-day extravaganza set to wrap up on Sunday, May 17th. Several classic topiaries have made their triumphant return for this year’s big event, including Beauty and the Beast in France, Lady and the Tramp in Italy, Bambi and his critter pals in Canada, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Germany. One of my personal favorite displays is also back for another stint, as the United Kingdom plays host once again to Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and that ever-persistent crocodile! The Butterfly House has also returned for 2015, and the Wonders of Life pavilion has once again reprised its role as Festival Center. The play areas are back in action this year as well, as kids can romp alongside Lighting McQueen and Mater topiaries in“The Cactus Road Rally Garden.” There’s also several new topiaries in the mix for 2015. Princess Anna and Queen Elsa have made their Royal debut this year, as the sisters can be found in a brand new display in World Showcase Plaza. In addition, Chip n’ Dale have been added into the re-designed “GoofyAbout Spring” display at the park’s Main Entrance. In total, you’ll find nearly 100 different character topiaries at this year’s edition of Flower & Garden.

But the topiaries are only the tip of the iceberg, as the Outdoor Kitchens have returned for another tour along World Showcase Promenade! Back for a third consecutive year, the kiosks offer up a unique blend of savory foods and drinks. You’ll find tasty dishes like ghost pepper-dusted tilapia at Urban Farm Eats,cheese manicotti at Primavera Kitchen, and achiote marinated pork tacos at Jardin de Fiestas. You’ll also find the pulled pig sliderand “piggylicious” bacon cupcake back on the menu at The Smokehouse, and you can indulge your tastebuds with a harissa chicken kebab at Taste of Marrakesh as well. There’s even a new kiosk to explore, as Botanas Botànico joins the mix for 2015. This new offering (located between Morocco and France) will be serving up a delicious infusion of South American-inspired dishes like cachapa con queso and white corn arepas. You’ll also find Seafood Ceviche on the menu, an enticing dish comprised of shrimp, scallops, and grouper mixed with mango and avocado. In total, you’ll find eleven Outdoor Kitchens at this year’s edition of Flower & Garden. You’ll also find a bonus food and drink option, Intermissions Cafe, housed inside the Festival Center.

In addition to the beautiful topiaries and stomach-pleasing Outdoor Kitchens, you’ll also find the Garden Rocks Concert Series! Changing its name from the long-running Flower Power Concert Series, Garden Rocks offers up free live entertainment each weekend throughout the duration of the festival. Gin Blossoms got the concert series underway this past weekend, playing America Gardens Theatre March 6th-8th. Other bands scheduled to appear at this year’s event include Starship (March 27th-29th), The Village People (April 10th-12th), and The Guess Who (April 24th-26th), just to name a few. For a look at the complete lineup for the Garden Rocks Concert Series, or for more information on the 2015 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in general, visit the official website.

Before we depart Epcot, let’s make a quick stop by The Land pavilion for some exciting news on Soarin’. Back in the November edition of the Newswire, the Rumor of the Monthfocused on a third show building in the works for Soarin’. Well, on March 5th, Disney officially confirmed a third show building is indeed going to be built at The Land pavilion for Soarin’! Projection system and screen upgrades are also going to be a part of the expansion, so expect some downtime for the attraction once it comes time for these upgrades at the existing two theaters. If plans stay on track, expect the project to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2016.

Time to park-hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios now, as another past Rumor of the Monthhas come to fruition! Back in the October edition of the Newswire, I speculated on the possibility of a third track for Toy Story Midway Mania! being built at the neighboring Soundstage 1 property. The building has been behind construction walls for months now, with no official word coming down as to what exactly is going on inside. That changed late last week, as Disney finally confirmed a third track for Toy Story Midway Mania! is indeed being built inside Soundstage 1. The track expansion will help alleviate the long wait times that have plagued the attraction since its opening back in May of 2008. As with the previously discussed Soarin’ expansion, look for the Toy Story Midway Mania! expansion project to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2016.

For more news out of DHS, let’s shift our focus over to 2015 Star Wars Weekends. Disney recently confirmed the “Symphony in the Stars” fireworks spectacular will be returning to light up the skies over DHS every night throughout the duration of the event. Darth’s Mall will also be back in business, but the store will be operating from a larger location near the Streets of America this year (the former location at Soundstage 1 is now unavailable due to the upcoming Toy Story track expansion). Disney also confirmed James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Clone Wars animated series) will once again be playing the role of host for each of the five weekends. No other celebrity appearances have been announced thus far, but names should start trickling out as the event draws closer.

Continuing along at DHS, there’s one more bit of news to discuss about Star Wars Weekends. Disney has also recently confirmed the “Stars of the Saga” and “Behind the Force” talk shows will be relocated from the Premiere Theater over to the Theater of the Stars. Located on Sunset Boulevard,Theater of the Stars is the current home of Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage. But the venue will soon be serving a dual role as it plays host to the celebrity talk shows and Q&A sessions every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the duration of Star Wars Weekends. Premiere Theater is currently home to “The First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration”, so one can only assume the venue shift is due to the fact Disney didn’t want to put a temporary halt on anything related to Frozen.

Wow, all this Star Wars talk has got me excited! So before we park-hop out of DHS, it’s time for the Rumor of the Month! This one is directly Star Wars-related, as the rumor mill has been absolutely scorching lately with speculation that Star Wars Land is coming to our galaxy in the not-so far, far, away future! We aren’t talking one new ride here, we are potentially looking at an entirely new land at DHS dedicated to the beloved franchise. If not for the upcoming release of Episode VII: The Force Awakens, an official announcement of the project would have already been made. However word has it Disney wants to incorporate the upcoming film into the land in a major way, thus the delay in development until the movie’s release this December. But this one is a foregone conclusion boys and girls, it’s just a matter of time. As I said, Disney wants to incorporate the new film into the land in a major way, so expect an E-Ticket-type thrill ridebased off Episode VII to be at the epicenter of Star Wars Land. Rumor also has it we may see an X-Wing or Landspeeder spinner-type ride ala Dumbo or Aladdin’s Magic Carpets. A virtual reality-style Speederbike thrill ride through the forests of Endor could be in the works as well. And what new land would be complete without a brand new dining location? The Tatooine Cantina would be an obvious choice, and a perfect fit! Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters Friday, December 18th, so expect an official announcement of Star Wars Land before the end of the year, possibly even at the D23 Expo this August in Anaheim.

Time to hop over to Magic Kingdom Park now for a little news on the refurbishment front. It was recently confirmed Pirates of the Caribbean will being seeing some significant downtime this year, as the attraction will be closed from Monday, May 11th to Friday, September 25th. This closure will put Jack and crew out of action for 4 1/2 months, a lengthy refurb but a necessary one. The Audio-animatronics, show elements, and even the ride vehicles themselves have been in desperate need of attention for quite some time now, as temporary closures have become a daily occurrence over the last few months. The lengthy closure will allow ample time to address these issues and get the attraction running at full efficiency again. And who knows, we may even see some elements from “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” added in soon! Currently in production in Australia, the fifth film in the Pirates saga will see Johnny Depp once again reprising the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. The movie hits theaters in July 2017.

Time to round out our trip around the four parks with a stop by Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For this newsbit we venture to Discovery Island for an update on Flame Tree Barbecue. The popular quick-service spot has been closed for refurbishment since Monday, January 5th. The restaurant was scheduled to re-open on Sunday, March 1st, but unfortunately the closure was extended by a month and a half. A new re-opening date has been slated for Wednesday, April 22nd, which will put the total downtime for the restaurant at 3 1/2 months.

Time to hop out of the parks now for an update on the ongoing transformation of Downtown Disney to Disney Springs. In the November edition of the Newswire, I detailed the exciting new dining options coming to The Landing district in the form of Morimoto Asia and The BOATHOUSE. Well, the shopping aspect of Disney Springs is starting to take shape now as well, as several new stores have recently opened for business. APEX by Sunglass Hut and Chapel Hats made their debuts about six weeks ago. The Art of Shaving (seen right) was next, opening its doors the week of February 2nd. Sanuk shoe store and Sound Lion (headphones) followed suit the week of February 9th. The week of February 23rd brought about two more additions, as Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC and Havaiana’s (flip flops) joined the frey. This brings the total of new stores in The Landing districtthis year to seven, but that number is nowhere close to the final tally. Several more shops and restaurants will be opening up at Disney Springs over the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned to the Newswire for more info as it develops!

Well, that’s gonna do it for the March edition of the WDW Radio Newswire, but I’ll be back again next month with lots more news, notes, and happenings from Walt’s beloved Florida Project!

Don Myers covers news and recent events in Walt Disney World. He has been enamored with the World of Disney since his first trip to WDW in 1986. As they say… the rest is history! Don was also a contributing writer for Celebrations magazine, submitting over 30 articles and 7 cover stories for the publication.

]]>http://www.wdwradio.com/2015/03/wdw-radio-newswire-2015-flower-garden-festival-now-underway-epcot/feed/440921It All Started With The Carolwood Pacific: “Toy Story Midway Mania!”http://www.wdwradio.com/2014/10/started-carolwood-pacific-toy-story-midway-mania/
http://www.wdwradio.com/2014/10/started-carolwood-pacific-toy-story-midway-mania/#commentsTue, 21 Oct 2014 14:00:31 +0000http://www.wdwradio.com/?p=38700It’s a game that’s a ride and a ride that’s a game! Toy Story Midway […]

It’s a game that’s a ride and a ride that’s a game! Toy Story Midway Mania! (TSMM) is one of the most fun and interactive attractions located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The interactive experience that is offered is a trend that Walt Disney World is moving towards, and to me, it is the best to date. The premise of the attraction is that the guests are shrunk down to toy size and Woody, Buzz and the gang are putting on a carnival while Andy is gone. The toys are using a brand new toy that Andy has received for a gift, and they spare no expense in making it a one-of-a-kind experience inside Andy’s room.

The attraction really does start as soon as you enter Pixar Place, which is themed after the Pixar Studios campus in Emeryville, California. As soon as you walk under the Pixar Studios sign, you have left Hollywood Studios and have entered the exciting, lively world of Pixar. Look around once you have entered the area, you notice that everything in the area is very large, and it appears that the guest’s have been shrunk down to the size of a toy. It becomes very clear from the moment you step into the Pixar Place that the land is very whimsical, bright and is designed to bring out the child in everyone.

If there is ever a time to slow down and take a look at what type of detail Imagineers put into the parks, TSMM is it. For starters, the sign at the start of the queue is so detailed and exciting. The whole sign is constructed with a combination of things such as scrabbles pieces, crayons, cards from a deck, a spindle of string, a spatula and so much more.

The fun and excitement definitely does not stop once you pass under the entrance sign because there are toys everywhere inside the show building including the ceiling! If you had not noticed that everyone has been shrunk down to toy size outside in Pixar Place, you will quickly realize it now. There literally is every type of classical toy you could ever imagine including Candy Land, Scrabble, Barrel of Monkey’s, Chutes and Ladders and so much more. Try and make it a goal to find your favorite growing up because it most likely will be in the queue area!

One of my favorite toys in the queue are the View-Masters. The size is of the toy is amazing but the best part is is the pictures, which are spectacular! Make sure to keep an eye out for the Disneyland View-Master as it offers some great views of the iconic park. By far the highlight of the queue is the Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronic that acts as the Carnival Barker. The interactive Mr. Potato Head sings, converses with guests and can even remove body parts and put them back on! As one of the most advanced A.A.’s ever built, everyone will be amazed when they come across him.

Once you have picked up your 3-D glasses you know you are finally getting closer! To me, this attraction is the best use of 3-D in all of Walt Disney World, and once you have been on TSMM, you will understand why. The 3-D effect is incorporated into it so smoothly and adds a great deal of interactiveness to the attraction. After picking up the glasses, there will be a staircase that leads you to the next part of the show building, and I love this room as well. This room is the loading area, and it is clear now you are Andy’s room because the walls are covered with the iconic Toy Story blue sky and puffy white clouds wallpaper. Construction of the loading area looks to have been done rather quickly by Woody, Buzz and all their friends because it looks like they grabbed whatever they could to put together this carnival ride!

Finally, it is time to hop on the ride-vehicle, and get the show underway. Each vehicle seats four people. Two people in each row with their backs facing each other with a tall divider in-between. Each guest has their own spring action toy cannon that shoots via pulling a string. Here’s a tip for those who have not been on TSMM, change shooting hands throughout the game because your wrist and hand will get tired. The first set of targets that the vehicle comes across will be a practice game that allows guests to get a good idea how the game works, but after that, it’s time to play! Each game booth has a different theme to it, and you are shooting at different targets. Cheering you on throughout the attraction will be characters such as Woody, Buzz and the Green Army Men.

The best part of the game is that it is catered to every age level and gives everybody the chance to rack up as many points as possible. Some of the targets are larger that offer the less-experienced shooters a better chance to score and there are small targets to give the sharp shooters a true battle. Besides the amazing 3-D effects, Imagineers have also added 4-D technology that brings so much more excitement to the game. For example, when shooting at balloons in one of the booths, they will pop and there will be a rush of air that shoots toward you. The Imagineers really did not miss a thing in designing this attraction.

The final thing that adds another level of excitement to the game is that it is also a competition. As the shooting continues, your score is being racked up, and at end of game, your score gets compared to the best score in the vehicle, best score for the current hour, best score for the day, and best score for the month.

Tips For The Attraction:

Although lines are always long, waiting in the non-FastPass line is a must for everyone. There is so much going on in the queue that you will not regret it.

During game play, aim for smaller targets as it will rack up more points quicker!

If you love anything Pixar, this is your attraction. Everywhere you look there is a reference to Pixar movies.

I love Pixar Place and hope the rumors of the large expansion are true! Comment below and let me know what you love about TSMM, or what you hope may be added to the amazing area!

Alex Larson is currently a college student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, he has loved Disney since he was born. Making annual trips to Walt Disney World since the age of three, the parks have become a very special place to him. His love for the parks is due to the memories he has had, attractions, the endless things to explore, the food and the sense of happiness every Disney fan feels while there.

Plus… Studio Backlot Tour now permanently closed,A Frozen Holiday Wish set to make its debut this November,and more!

Before we get started today, I’d like to take a minute thank everyone for all the comments and feedback on the September edition of the Newswire. I personally read each and every comment, and I encourage everyone to continue leaving your opinions and feedback. With that said, I’ve decided to add a “Rumor of the Month” section to the Newswire! Each article I’ll pick one hot rumor to discuss, and I’ll be keeping track of which rumors become fact and which ones never come to fruition. So let’s get to it. Time to settle into the Halloween Season with the October edition of the WDW Radio Newswire….

We begin this eerie October edition of the Newswire with a bit of disheartening news, as last month brought about the permanent closure of the Studio Backlot Tour®. An opening day attraction for Disney’s Hollywood Studios® (then known as Disney-MGM Studios®), the Backlot Tour quietly drifted into the realm of extinction on Saturday, September 27th. The attraction’s closure was extremely abrupt, as word of its demise came down just seven days prior on Saturday, September 20th. A week later, the attraction was closed forever. I’m sad to see the Backlot Tour go, but years of changes had made the attraction a shell of its former self. Many key elements were lost over the years, including walking portions of the tour, residential street, and most recently the closure of the post-show AFI Film Institute Showcase. What was once a two-hour attraction had sadly been whittled away and reduced down to just 35 minutes by the end of its run.

But the news isn’t all bad, as the closure of the Backlot Tour frees up a ton of space for exciting new attractions, shops, and restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

Which brings me to the Rumor of the Month!

The area taken up by the Backlot Tour has diminished over the years, but the attraction still covers a ton of real estate at DHS. So with all this space opened up, what exciting new projects await the future landscape of the Studios? Let’s start with Soundstage 1. The building sits between the Studio Backlot Tour and Toy Story Midway Mania®, and for years rumors have been circulating pertaining to a Monsters Inc.-themed roller coaster at Soundstage 1. Well, late last month several top Disney big wigs were at the Studios surveying the area. Just days after their visit, construction walls sprung up and Soundstage 1 is now officially a work zone! But what’s coming there? Will we finally be getting our long-awaited Monsters Inc. roller coaster? Rumors are actually pointing to the contrary, as the big speculation right now has Soundstage 1 being converted into an additional show building for Toy Story Midway Mania! There are currently two tracks housed inside Toy Story Mania, but a third track inside Soundstage 1 would drastically help alleviate the long wait times for the attraction, and could potentially allow completely separate buildings for standby Guests and those using FASTPASS+®. This seems to be the most likely scenario, as last week a “FASTPASS+ only” test run took place at Toy Story Midway Mania. A second show building, third track, and new games and elements will be nice additions. But I’m really hoping for some new attractions at the Studios! That’s where the space freed up by the Backlot Tour comes in. Rumors are running wild right now! Speculation of a potential Cars Land or Frozen Land are getting a lot of buzz right now. There’s even been rumblings of more Star Wars and/or Indiana Jones elements being implemented into the Studios! Cars Land makes the most sense to me, as the Backlot Tour area is located right next to Pixar Place®. The land is also big enough to bring in most, if not all, of the elements currently showcased in California’s version of Cars Land®. But a Frozen-themed Land could also be on the horizon for DHS, as Wandering Oaken’s Trading ® just settled into its permanent residence in the area that was once home to the Backlot Tour‘s post-show AFI Film Institute Showcase. So just days after the Backlot Tour’s closure you now have a Frozen-themed gift shop in the area. This could very well point to the coming of Frozen Land at the Studios. Personally, I would love to see additional Star Wars and Indy attractions. The Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye and a Star Wars cantina-style restaurant would be fantastic additions to DHS. But with Star Tours – The Adventures Continue® and Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular® located across the park in the Echo Lake®area, this scenario doesn’t really make as much sense geographically as a Frozen or Cars Land does. But what do you think? What exciting new attractions, shops, or restaurants do you want to see come to the Backlot Tour area and Soundstage 1? Please feel free to leave your comments and tell me what you think!

For more news out of DHS, let’s continue along the the Streets of America® to the new home of Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post. The Gift Shop previously had a makeshift residence over at Soundstage 1 during the Frozen Summer Fun event. But as I just mentioned in the Rumor of the Month paragraph, the trading post now has a permanent home in the area formerly occupied by the AFI Film Institute Showcase.

Time to park-hop over to Magic Kingdom® Park now for some more news on from the Gift Shop front. Across the street from Gracie Manor, Memento Mori®is now open! Located in the building previously occupied by the Yankee Trader® , the interior of the building has been completely transformed into a Haunted Mansion® -themed store. Guests now have a brand new, one-stop shop for all things related to the 999 happy haunts! From shirts, hats, pins, and hoodies to framed artwork, glasses, dishware, and collectables, you’ll find it all at Memento Mori. The store also offers an exciting new photo opportunity, as you can now have your “spirit image” captured in ghost form! For $20 (plus tax), your picture is taken and then printed onto holographic paper. So the image changes from “happy alive you” to “decaying corpse you” depending on which angle you’re looking at it! This is a fun and clever idea, and it makes for a truly one-of-a-kind souvenir to bring back from the parks. The opening of Memento Mori comes as a bit of a surprise, as the shop was originally expected to open up at the conclusion of the Haunted Mansion‘s December refurb (Dec. 1-19).

For more news out of Magic Kingdom® Park, let’s head to Cinderella Castle where preparations for the upcoming Holiday Season are well underway. The Castle Dream Lights® are now completely in place, and an announcement was recently made pertaining to a new Castle lighting show that will be making its debut for 2014. A Frozen Holiday Wish® will light up Cinderella Castle on Wednesday, November 5th, with the special nightly ceremony set to take place each evening throughout the duration of the Holiday Season. I think it will be exciting to see a new Holiday castle lighting show at MK, but I hope Cinderella’s Holiday Wish returns in 2015. I understand Disney wanting to ride the “hot hand” of Frozen right now…but after all it is Cinderella’s castle!

Before we hop out of the Magic Kingdom, let’s make a quick stop by Frontierland®. The annual refurb for Splash Mountain® was recently announced, as Brer Rabbit and the fellow inhabitants of Chik-A-Pin Hill will be on hiatus from Sunday, January 4th until Saturday, January 31st. This will put the total downtime for the attraction at four weeks.

For more news from the refurbishment front, let’s hop over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom®Theme Park. Kali River Rapids®will also be seeing some downtime just after New Year’s, as the attraction will be closed from Tuesday, January 20th, to Wednesday February 4th.

For our final bit of news, let’s take the Wildlife Express Train® out to Rafiki’s Planet Watch®. The Affection Section just closed down on Tuesday, October 7th, for a month-long refurb. The area is set to re-open to Guests on Tuesday, November 11th. The Conservation Station, Wildlife Express Train, and Habitat Habit!® are all scheduled to remain open and operational during the Affection Section refurb.

Well, that’s gonna do it for the October edition of the Newswire, but I’ll be back again next month with lots more news, notes, and happenings from Walt’s beloved Florida Project!

Don Myers covers news and recent events in Walt Disney World. He has been enamored with the World of Disney since his first trip to WDW in 1986. As they say, the rest is history! Don was also a contributing writer for Celebrations magazine, submitting over 30 articles and 7 cover stories for the publication.

]]>http://www.wdwradio.com/2014/10/wdw-radio-newswire-haunted-mansion-themed-gift-shop-opens-ahead-schedule-liberty-square/feed/338520Disney From The Twenty-Something: Toy Story Maniahttp://www.wdwradio.com/2013/02/disney-from-the-twenty-something-toy-story-mania/
http://www.wdwradio.com/2013/02/disney-from-the-twenty-something-toy-story-mania/#commentsMon, 11 Feb 2013 14:31:46 +0000http://www.wdwradio.com/?p=23741In all of Walt Disney World, one of my favorite attractions is Toy Story Mania […]

In all of Walt Disney World, one of my favorite attractions is Toy Story Mania located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since opening in 2008, this attraction has proven to be popular with the majority of guests visiting WDW, frequently having some of the longest wait times on property. Shrinking guests down to a toy’s size and dizzily spinning them through several different 4D midway style games, this attraction is sure to get everyone smiling and wanting to return time and time again to beat the high score.

Located in Pixar Place, Toy Story Mania is a relatively short distance from the front of the park, usually to be covered at a leisurely pace. However, if you arrive for rope drop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you will be sure to encounter what I jokingly refer to as the “running of the tourists.” It seems as though every single person in the park beelines directly for Toy Story Mania in hopes to beat the long lines and score a coveted Fast Pass. My personal plan of attack in terms of this attraction occurs only on mornings that feature Extra Magic Hours for Hollywood Studios. Immediately at rope drop, I hurry along with the crowd, secure a Fast Pass, wait on the stand-by line once (sometimes twice depending on the estimated wait time after exiting from the first ride), then leisurely wait around and explore before being able to utilize my Fast Pass. I find that this plan usually works out really well, as by the time you are able to use the Fast Pass, the park is open to the public and the line swells exponentially. If you are not able to be there first thing in the morning, try to obtain a Fast Pass if possible, as midday wait times can easily exceed 100 minutes on crowded days. However, I will caution you that since the attraction is so popular and there are only a limited number of Fast Passes offered a day, the Fast Passes will run out by early afternoon on crowded days. So be sure to get your Fast Passes earlier in the day to experience this attraction with minimal wait times!

Now that we’ve talked about when I think is the best time to visit the attraction, let’s focus on the fun stuff! Be sure to take your time exploring Pixar Place and the immediate area surrounding the entrance to Toy Story Mania as there are some great props and Toy Story characters that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to keep an eye out for Mr. Spell and any messages he may be sending your way. Another great Disney touch of detail includes the green army men and the message that they are spelling out using Scrabble letter tiles. Any Toy Story fan will certainly recognize the reference of “you’ve got a friend in me.”

Once you begin to walk the queue of the attraction, you’ll quickly become immersed in the over-sized props and toys. Shrinking down to a toy’s size gives a great perspective on some classic toys and board games including Candyland, decks of cards, Tinker Toys, and a Barrel of Monkeys. Some of my personal favorite details from the line include the Chutes and Ladders board on the ceiling, the pictures drawn by Andy of Mr. Potato Head and Hamm, and the Viewfinder film reel featuring classic pictures from Tomorrowland in Disneyland. Those are some great details, but they are only several things in a highly impressive queue. Be sure to notice the crayons scattered around…does one seem different than the others? If you noticed that the pink crayon seems to be the only one that looks as though it was never used, then you’re right! When designing the queue, Imagineers took into consideration that Andy was a boy and probably would use the color pink the least in all of his drawings. Just another great example of Disney detail!

As you work your way further into the queue, you will come face to face with a large audio-animatronic of Mr. Potato Head. Acting as the Boardwalk Barker of the midway games, Mr. Potato Head directly interacts with members of the line that are passing him by and displays some of the most advanced technology that Disney has ever created. He is the first audio-animatronic to be capable of removing a body part (his ear) and reattaching it moments later. He is also the first to be able to form words and vowel sounds with his mouth and to feature animated eyes that are able to focus on the person he is interacting with at any moment. All in all, Mr. Potato Head is not only a technological novelty, he is also really entertaining to listen to and interact with. Anything that can make a line seem shorter and more entertaining is great in my book!

As you continue working your way through the line, you will soon find yourself in Andy’s room, or the boarding area, complete with the classic blue sky and clouds wallpaper. When you reach the bottom of the stairs right before the loading area, be sure to take notice of a book titled “Tin Toy” written by Lasseter. This actually refers to John Lasseter, head of Pixar and a creative advisor for Imagineering. The title of the book refers to an animated short of the same title created by Lasseter in 1988 which was a pre-cursor to the development of the Toy Story plot and franchise. Look for another mention of Tinker Toy on the side of the loading bay that you exit on.

Once past the stairs, you finally board your ride vehicle and are off to the midway games! You will find yourself competing in a series of mini-games featuring most of the beloved characters of Toy Story. The first mini-game is a target practice round featuring Jessie, Buzz, Woody, and Rex who help you get the hang of the pull and shoot system in your ride vehicle. The second mini-game is called Hamm and Eggs, hosted by Hamm and Buttercup, and requires you to fire eggs at targets like pigs and horses in a farm like setting. Up next is Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts mini-game where you must fire darts at target balloons in a volcanic setting reminiscent of prehistoric times. The fourth mini-game, Green Army Men Shoot Camp, features everyone’s favorite little green men offering targets of plates to be broken with flying baseballs in a desert like setting. Up next is Buzz Lightyear’s Flying Tossers mini-game where you have to fire rings on your way to victory. The fan favorite aliens from Toy Story are your targets are they nestle inside rockets and a space background. Finally, you will get to play Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery where you fire at large targets of different values in the Wild Wild West. At the end of this mini-game there is a bonus round where you can really rack up the points if you are quick!

In each of these mini-games, be sure to be on the lookout for “Easter Eggs,” or hidden reactions in the games caused by hitting special targets. These Easter Eggs can be anything from a blast of air to the unveiling of more targets. See if you can find them all! Also be sure to try and pay attention as you are whizzing around between mini-games as there are some great details to be found inside the attraction room itself. My favorite detail here is strongman Rocky Gibraltar’s taffy stand. See if you can find him!

When your shooting is done, you are faced with a screen where you can compare your score with others in your ride vehicle as well as the high score of the day. This alone is enough to fuel competitive players to return and try and beat the high score! Finally, as you disembark your ride vehicle, take in the last few great details of the ride. In front of you is the second reference I mentioned before to the Tin Toy story and to your right is a great photo op with the larger than life bucket of green army men.

Despite the seemingly ever-present long lines, Toy Story Mania is one of my favorite attractions in Disney World as it both highly immersive and so much fun! I love going back time and time again to try and beat my own score as well as continue to take in some great examples of Disney’s attention to detail.

Do you love Toy Story Mania as much as I do? Ever have the high score of the day? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.